System and Method for Tracking Tags Over Bluetooth Low Energy

Abstract

There is described a system and method for tracking a tag. The system and method includes a concentrator for receiving, via a one-way Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication, at least one data packet broadcasted by a tag during a time slot assigned to the tag and identifying the tag based on the at least one data packet. The system and method also includes a gateway in communication with the concentrator for receiving the identification of the tag from the concentrator and outputting the identification of the tag.

1 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A tag comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive and transmit data over Bluetooth low energy (BLE);   a processor configured to:
 generate at least one data packet, the at least one data packet comprising at least a unique tag identification (ID) associated with the tag and a device ID associated with a device to which the at least one data packet is intended; 
 receive a time slot via one-way BLE communication from the device, the time slot assigned by the device, the time slot defining a period of time during which the tag is configured to transmit and to receive data; and 
 broadcast the at least one data packet via one-way BLE communication using the communication interface during the time slot, the at least one data packet configured to be recognized by the receiving device by the device ID of the at least one data packet; 
   a memory configured to store the unique tag ID;   and a power source.   
     
     
         54 . The tag of  claim 53 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 generating at least one discovery packet, the at least one discovery packet comprising at least the unique tag ID;   broadcasting the at least one discovery packet via the one-way BLE communication using the communication interface; and   receiving a discovery confirmation packet including the time slot and the device ID.   
     
     
         55 . The tag of  claim 53 , wherein the processor is further configured for powering the communication interface only during the time slot. 
     
     
         56 . The tag of  claim 53 , wherein the time slot assigned to the tag repeats at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         57 . The tag of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one data packet further comprises sensor data, the sensor data being received from at least one sensor. 
     
     
         58 . The tag of  claim 57 , further comprising the at least one sensor, the sensor being configured to sense at least one parameter to generate the sensor data. 
     
     
         59 . The tag of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one data packet comprising a plurality of data packets, each one of the data packets comprising a respective data packet ID. 
     
     
         60 . The tag of  claim 59 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 receiving an identification of at least one of the data packets that was not received by the device; and   broadcasting again the at least one of the data packets that was not received via the one-way BLE communication using the communication interface during the time slot assigned to the tag.   
     
     
         61 . The tag of  claim 60 , wherein said receiving the identification comprises receiving a confirmation packet comprises one bit for each one of the data packets, each bit indicating whether its corresponding data packet has been received. 
     
     
         62 . A device for identifying a tag, the device comprising:
 a communication interface configured to receive and transmit data over Bluetooth low energy (BLE);   a memory for storing at least a device identification (ID) associated with the at least one device;   at least one processor configured for:
 determining a time slot, the time slot defining a period of time during which a tag is configured to transmit and receive data; 
 broadcasting the time slot and the device ID via one-way BLE communication; 
 receiving, via one-way Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication, at least one data packet broadcasted by the tag during the assigned time slot, the at least one data packet including the device ID; 
 recognizing the device ID of the at least one data packet and if the device ID of the at least one data packet is associated with the device ID of the device: 
 identifying the tag based on the at least one data packet; and 
 outputting the identification of the tag. 
   
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the at least one data packet comprises at least a unique tag ID associated with the tag and the device ID. 
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the time slot assigned to the tag repeats at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 64 , wherein the processor is configured for, prior to said determining the time slot:
 receiving a discovery packet broadcasted by the tag, the discovery packet comprising at least the unique tag ID,   wherein said determining the time slot is performed in response to said receiving the discovery packet and said broadcasting the time slot comprises generating a discovery confirmation packet comprising the time slot and the device ID and broadcasting the discovery confirmation packet via the one-way BLE communication.   
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the at least one data packet further comprises sensor data, the processor being further configured for one of:
 storing the sensor data and the unique tag ID on the memory; and   transmitting the sensor data and the unique tag ID to an external server.   
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the at least one data packet comprising a plurality of data packets, each one of the data packets comprising a respective data packet ID. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 67 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 identifying at least one additional packet that was sent by the tag and is missing from the received data packets, thereby identifying at least one non-received packet; and   broadcasting the identification of the at least one non-received packet along with the unique tag ID and the device ID via the one-way BLE communication during the time slot.   
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 68 , wherein the processor is configured for:
 generating a confirmation packet being indicative of the data packet ID of the data packets that were received by the device, the identification of the at least one non-received packet, the unique tag ID and the device ID; and   broadcasting the confirmation packet via the one-way BLE communication during the time slot.   
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 69 , wherein the confirmation packet comprises a plurality of bits each associated with a respective packet, the packet being one of: one of the data packets and one of the at least one non-received packet, each bit indicating whether its respective packet has been received.